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A tribute to late T. B. Ilangaratne:
Labour tribunals - fifty years
It's fifty years,
since the establishment
of Labour Tribunals!
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Tikiri Bandara Ilangaratne |
having had the
first sitting
on May 2, 1959
Sir, it's your brainchild
as the then Minister
of Labour,
of the SLFP Government,
we recall, in all sincerity
the role you played,
to passage same through
the then Parliament
amidst severe opposition
and criticism
LT ensured a fair and
judicial hearing,
'hiring and firing' of
employees came to an end
Unfairly dismissed employees
were re-instated, generally
with back wages
what a salvation this was
needs no elaboration
Sir, you never failed to do,
whatever changes
you wanted to bring about
for the benefit of the
working class and
the common man,
as your heart was for them!!
You were a rebel with a cause
Your era was challenging,
yet, you feared none and
steered very well, undaunted,
we now feel
your absence a lot
Shakespeare said:
"the evil men do - lives after them
the good is oft interred, with their bones"
this, should not have happened to you
but, it did, it's a pity indeed
Sir, you did your duty
by the working class, and in turn,
You deserve a big Thank You,
Thank you Sir, Thank You very much!
You are in our thoughts always
and, we pray for you
May you attain
the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana!
Daya Nihal de Silva Ampitiya, Kandy
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